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To offer a foster place to a Staffie is to offer a true lifeline. Many Staffies are found stray and, being naturally people-loving dogs, a kennel imprisonment offers them safety, but is often torturous, an artificial environment surrounded by a cacophony of dog noise.

We are looking for foster homes without other animals; with easy access to a secure garden space or exercise area, with means for transportation and we are careful not to take undue risks. We are also looking for the type of foster family who are sensitive e.g. not changing the dogs name or introducing the dog to too many new situations too soon. We will only put "a proven with children" Staffie in with very young children. We need a foster family who are prepared to make allowances for the dog's adjustment. A disturbed night or two is to be expected, as are a few housetraining accidents. Please don't be too quick to judge. Given time you begin to see the dog settling; pushing the limits a little; grasping expectations and learning new skills. You discover the dog is a little possessive of their toys; a door dasher; loves the car; good with strangers visiting, etc. Then you work with the dog to build their confidence together with our support.

Fosterers can be caught up in the thrill of having a new foster dog, singing their praises, eager for its home, ready for the next! To foster takes commitment and patience. Being there for that dog; loving it and awaiting that call. New fosterers start telling everyone about the dog and consciously or unconsciously try to find their home locally. We are very wary of impulse homings. By all means spread the word, but encourage people to go to our website and complete our homing questionnaire. We may feel another one of our dogs is either more suitable for their circumstances or, given choice, more needy for that homing opportunity.

We try to really know our dogs and match the dog with the right family. Rescue dogs aren't second-hand dogs which should be grateful for any home. NO! They are often dogs that have missed out on solid foundations and oh we so need to get it right this time by finding them their forever home. In a fostering situation we are looking for positive; open labels e.g. copes well with being left, no destruction or barking and doesn't seem too distress on return. Not categorical, absolute labels like fearful of men, doesn't like entire males, doesn't like white dogs, this dog has been hit, must be homed with a large dog etc. We can so easily underestimate or over estimate a dog.

So whether you can offer one of our dogs a temporary refuge until they find their forever home or even a short break maybe after neutering for them to heal and recover in a loving environment … both they and we, would be very grateful. As we are in South England obviously that would suit our dogs better but please come forwards as we have 'friends in the north' who would also so love help. We will, having learnt so much from a fosterer about their housetraining, human interactions, need for garden security, reliance on access to furniture, tolerance of being left for short periods etc., be able to move forwards with surety in matching them to their new homes.

Please complete the questionnaire below and send it to us completed as fully as possible saved as a word.doc

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